West Brom 1-1 Fulham: New manager, same heartbreak for Fulham as Baggies equalize late (video)

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New Fulham manager Felix Magath shut up shop with just a 1-0 lead, and West Brom made him pay.

Just like the last time these two teams faced off, a late Baggies goal denies the Whites two points and may have condemned them to the drop.

The winner came from substitute Matej Vydra, as Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg – who’d been fantastic all game – couldn’t handle a blast right at him and the ball trickled over the line for the equalizer four minutes from full-time.

Fulham controlled much of the possession in the opening 10 minutes. The first real chance came in the sixth minute, as Louis Holtby played a one-two with Hugo Rodallega and the Spurs loanee fired wide left.

It turned into a possession game with precious little on goal going forward, but again the visitors had a chance as Steve Sidwell missed a follow-up shot in the 22nd minute, after Ashkan Dejagah’s cross was just out of the reach of Hugo Rodallega.

The Whites controlled possession but West Brom were dangerous on the break. Thievy Bifouma took a ball from Saido Berainho on the break, with Fulham caught out, but Maarten Stekelenburg saved very well to keep the game scoreless.

Fulham finally took advantage of their chances in the 28th minute. Kieran Richardson broke down the left touchline, and his first-time cross found Holtby. The forward whiffed at his kick, but it fell to Dejagah on the other end of the box, and the Iranian threaded the needle for the opener.

Felix Magath saw exactly what Fulham is all about in his first match in charge.

The visitors were the more dangerous side throughout the first half, and Rodallega took a crack on goal from well far out, a great strike, but Ben Foster was equal to the task to dive and parry away, and it went to the half with just the one score.

West Brom finally had their first sustained spell of pressure on the Fulham defense following that chance. Chris Brunt had a testing shot on goal after the ball fell to him outside the box, but Stekelenburg again came to Fulham’s rescue, saving the bouncing shot and securing one of his best and most important performances in a Fulham shirt.

The home side continued to dominate possession in the second half, and Magath brought on Kostas Mitroglou for his Fulham debut on 60 minutes.

There were nearly shades of the reverse fixture earlier on, as Gareth McAuley – last time’s equalizing hero – latched onto a corner but put his header just wide with 20 minutes to go. But with Dan Burn brought on to give Fulham five men at the back and 20 minutes to go , it was clear Magath was looking to see out the 1-0 win.

The Baggies had other ideas. With tired legs all around the pitch, Vydra took his chance. Victor Anichebe sent in a great cross to Vydra in the middle of the box, and he blasted his shot from close range directly at Stekelenburg. The Dutch keeper, who’d had an outsanding match, couldn’t handle the heat, and the ball trickled away and just over the line.

The point is massive for West Brom. They still have just two wins in their last 21 league matches, but the point gives them a bit of cushion over the drop.

For Fulham, who have Chelsea up next, they drop an enormous two points. Instead of going just one point from safety, they remain bottom of the table and fail to take advantage of Cardiff City’s loss.

Cecilio Dominguez and Mateus Uribe each bagged a brace, and Renato Ibarra also scored as the tournament’s top team sauntered into and out of Costa Rica on Wednesday. Club America has been to seven CCL finals, and one every single one.

West Ham United will pay a visit to Dag & Red as part of the latter’s #SaveTheDaggers campaign, and the March 21 date will cost fans between $7 and $21 to see a top flight side at 6,000-seat Victoria Road.

“So please come on down to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for an additional night of football. Bring a friend, or two, or more and we can use the gate takings to help get us back on track,” reads a press release.

Dag & Red was founded in 1992 and climbed as high as League One in 2011, and plays just 2.5 miles from West Ham United’s training ground. Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle are among Dag & Red alums in the Premier League.

It’s a terrific gesture from West Ham, and is even more impressive in the United States where the growing club game is increasingly cutthroat (especially between non-synced leagues).

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AS Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco absolutely roasted his charges after i Lupi tossed aside a Cenzig Under-inspired lead to fall 2-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Di Francesco had praise for Edin Dzeko, who assisted Under’s goal, as well as goalkeeper Alisson, but was mostly enraged by his side.

4) “The difference was that in the first half we tried to hurt them while in the second we were looking to hold on – to what? I don’t know.”

— “To what? I don’t know” is hilarious. Di Francesco’s side has posted some serious wins this season, including killing off Chelsea 3-0 at home and coming back from 2-0 to draw the Blues at Stamford Bridge. He doesn’t preach sitting back.

3) “There were far too many schoolboy errors – even by players with a wealth of international experience.”

— Schoolboy errors!

2) “I saw two completely different teams out there today. There were lots of players I should have taken off after we conceded the first goal.”

— Again, one mistake by a number of players on Facundo Ferreyra is enough for Di Francesco. He’s not just happy to be here.

1) “I can’t imagine we’d get arrogant just because we’re winning an important game. It’s not as if Roma are used to reaching the final every year.”

— When you’re willing to essentially rip an entire club’s history — Roma’s been to just two UCL quarterfinals since losing the final to Liverpool in 1984 — you’re putting your footprints in new cement.

Salzburg’s two away goals in a draw feels like a one-goal lead, and the one-goal matches are especially interesting. In the case of Atalanta, 1-0 to the Serie A side could undo Michy Batshuayi‘s first leg heroics for BVB.